Probiotics have been in the news a lot lately. If you have not received the memo on the importance of probiotics, let this be that memo. The literal translation of probiotic is: pro- "for" + biotics "life" – for life!

Probiotics boost the good bacteria in your digestive tract, can help heal a multitude of health issues, detox the body, and can even lead to weight loss, better skin, and boosted immunity. The health of our gut largely determines our overall health.

Our favorite way to consume probiotics is through drinking kombucha. It is a great bubbly alternative to drinking soda and has health benefits. You can buy kombucha at health food stores or make it at home for pennies. Brewing kombucha at home is easy.

There are a lot of starter kits you can buy online that come with everything you need to start brewing kombucha. Many local health food stores have patrons which brew their own kombucha and provide you with a SCOBY (Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast) and tips to to make your culture a success. Lets begin brewing kombucha at home.

Brewing Kombucha At Home

To make kombucha all you need is:
1 gallon of purified water
8 organic tea bags (green or black)
1 cup of sugar
SCOBY
1 gallon glass jar
cheese cloth or old t-shirt

When brewing kombucha at home this is what you'll do:
Boil 8 cups of water in a large pot. Add the tea bags and steep for 20-30 minutes. Remove the tea bags. Add the sugar and stir well. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. Once cool pour the tea into the clean gallon glass jar. Add 8 cups of water to the jar and the SCOBY. Cut out a section of the t-shirt to fit over the opening of the jar. Cover the top of the jar with the t-shirt, secure it with a rubber band. Place the jar in a cool dark place for 7-14 days.

The time it takes for the kombucha to ferment depends on many factors. After 7 days begin checking the fermentation process. Move the SCOBY to the side and with a clean spoon, sample the tea. The tea will begin to self carbonate. The mixture can be sweet or sour in flavor depending on your preference and how long you allow it to ferment.

At this point you can enjoy your kombucha or do a second fermentation process to which you add flavors to your tea. You can create any flavor you desire; each flavor has a different process. Just Google the flavor you want and follow the instructions. If you opt not to add a flavor, you can begin your next batch of kombucha. Congratulations on brewing kombucha at home. In the comments share with us what is your favorite way to add probiotics to your diet. If you found this article interesting read more about cultured foods.